By Thomas Peretu
Not a few persons—-analysts in tow, would look away in abject resignation when the geo-political landscape of Rivers State is severely threatened by architects of chaos, turmoil and upheaval. The flurry of invasive schemes deployed by these simple minded political jobbers including judicial brickbats attest to this fact.
In effect, the state is atrophied, limping as it were towards precipice under the punitive weight of godfatherism. Whatever that means.
Isn’t it outrageous to note that Rivers State is a ready cuisine in the palate of news merchants–perhaps for all the wrong reasons? The state has over time acquired the reputation of being the butt of every political joke. And why not? In my estimation the state occupies a strategic position in the socio-economic wellbeing of the country. Hence, it is said quite rightly too that when Rivers State is under the weather, the nation sneezes.
This raging firestorm, rueful as it is,
is occasioned as earlier pointed out, by the ruthless purveyors as apparachiks of democracy and political dominance.
The intent, without being uncharitable is to further aggregate their stranglehold on the state. This turn of events is not informed by altruistic realities; neither is it to advance public good. But rather orchestrated to harvest prebendal objectives. It bears no repeating however, that the rivers house of politics is unwittingly, smothering in a whirlwind of
Sturn und Grang. The shambolic political gambit thrown up in Rivers State is a fitting exemplar of atrocious and mendacious politicking. This is what my late friend Fela Anikulakpo Kuti in his jocular manner would describe as ‘Roforofo fight’. Ija ignore, if you will.
The ‘poli-shenanigan’ (for want of a better phrase) playing out in Rivers State should be condemned by every public spirited individuals in the region and the country at large.
The political ‘agidigbo’ loosely translated to mean fisticuff reared its ugly head shortly after Governor Similayi Fubara was sworn-in as the executive Governor in 2023. Six months down the line, while the jubilation was yet on-going, there were clandestine manoeuvres behind closed doors aimed at inflicting mortal injury on the governor. At least to render him impotent. Gapping cracks were visible even to the blind in the wall as the state assembly began surreptitious moves to unseat the governor. Don’t forget, the governor was asking too many fundamental questions about the health status of the state finances. And wouldn’t?
At this juncture, the state assembly complex was torched by unknown gun men. Some persons believe the deed was executed by agents of the government to forestall the impeachment agenda. Eventually, the structure was pulverised by government due to the defects caused by the inferno. This incident reminds me of what took place in Edo State some years back when the assembly complex was deroofed for renovation at a time members loyal to Adams Oshhiomole, the then chairman of the All Progressives Party began the process of impeachment of Gov. Godwin Obaseki. You’d recall that the assembly member who were in the majority lost out in the power game. They were never sworn-in until the end of their term in office.
Another factor that led to the Rivers battle of wits was attributed to the diversion of the state resources by some officials. The men were caught channeling things every month to a godfather somewhere unbeknown to the Governor. No sooner Gov. Fubara got wind of the deals than he ordered for a forensic probe of the affairs of the ministry of finance. And that obviously escalated the friction between the opposing camps. The action of the governor did not go down well with the godfather and that I must admit, brought the political harakiri. Gov. Fubara had committed an abominable offence and he must be punished for this impunity. By hook or crook. That Fubara dared to set up a panel of inquiry to probe the financial transactions of the past administration was like adding pepper to the wound. The brazen act of insubordination was too much to bear. The social media was awash with the video of one of the past local government chairmen in Rivers State, a disciple or was it a foot soldier of Mr. Wike went over board by openly disparaging the governor in public. Even though, he was made to chew his words later, at least not after the deed was done. Regrettably so.That was an open display of arrogance and indiscipline at its worst.
The fugitive members of the state house of assembly were obviously working in tandem with a script handed over to them by the unseen guardian angel. They immediately set in motion the process of impeaching Governor Sim Fubara for gross misconduct. While they were at it, the 26 members of the assembly gave notice of their defection to the opposition party.
They cited the division in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP as grounds for their defection. What can be more ignoble? This is totally an aberration at best. Because that is not tenable as a cogent reason for jumping from one party to another. They say those whom the gods want to destroy are first made made. Unfortunately, our brothers suspended their sense of critical reasoning before they plunged —willy nilly into the fray.
Incidentally, the initial intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR did not yield any dividends to the parties at war. The reason was not far fetched.
The conciliatory meeting initiated by Mr president was lopsided therefore, it could not engineer a needed resolution of the disputes between the two protagonists. The truce brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in total contradiction of the salient provisions of the constitution. Hence, it failed ibi nitio for want of merit.
The brouhaha has over time snowballed into a full blown warfare with each side braying for the cardiovascular anatomy and blood line of the adversary. The battle, obliquely, has now attained an epidemic proportion. No thanks to the divergent interest groups figured in the mortifying struggle for the soul of the state. The dispute is fueled largely by greed and inordinate ambition.
Or how else does one explain the deliberate, systematic blight and erosion of democratic decency, the disagreement has engineered in the polity.
These individuals and interest groups populated by the recalcitrant members of the state house of assembly are working assiduously to pull the rug off the feet of the governor.
All because an individual is consummately determined to entrench his authority and power on the people and government of Rivers State. Incidentally, the 26 assembly members who had publicly decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to All Progressives Congress APC have unwittingly forfeited their seats in consonance with provisions of the 1999 constitution. Even though, Amaewhule and his co-travellers have not fully consummated the move to their new abode, they have nonetheless lost their claim to being honourable members of the assembly albeit by their actions. An affidavit deposed to that effect at the federal high court gave them away.
Therefore, there’s no amount of judicial or political subterfuge will upturn this unassailable verdict.The plethora of court cases have also underscored this assertion. Therefore, all actions undertaken by the rogue assembly members amounts to nulity including the tenure elongation of local government chairmen. The courts have since validated that decision.
Howbeit, the events in Rivers State is not unexpected. It is clearly a deja vu of some sorts. It is a common place occurrence in the state as governors and their predecessors have always been at daggers drawn. Ask Minister now Lawyer Rotimi Amaechi or Sir Peter Odili. Wike haunted and hounded Amaechi like a fugitive. So why would Wike’s case be an exception to the rule. After all what you sow is what you reap. Tit for tat. No governor worth the position would accept the over bearing attitude of Mr. WIke. The assembly members who are fighting a proxy war on behalf their pay master are holding onto a floating raft. Very soon reality will dawn on them as they begin to float in the air without destination.
It’s been said in law that it is against the principles of equity to approbate and reprobate at the same time, see Ajuwon vs Oyo state govt supreme court verdict…
It is my sincere hope that Wike and foot soldiers would give peace a chance by allowing Gov. Fubara to concentrate on governance. It is too early in the day to think about 2027. Let’s give attention to the assignment at hand. Enough of the distractions. Thankfully the masses and the elders including traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts are queueing behind the Governor. Fubara is the beautiful bride of the hoipolloi. Let the man of the people breathe. This my stand.
By Thomas Peretu
Author and poet
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•Opinions, positions or thoughts expressed here are personal and strictly of the writers/authors and not The Daily Crucible.
